Trainees Afternoon at Zealandia

Trainees Afternoon

Dust yourselves off and join us on Friday for an afternoon constitutional through the famous ZEALANDIA – the world's first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary. Not only the perfect remedy for a prior late night but also a chance to get to know some of our keynote speakers and discuss training and career opportunities.

The 225 hectare (500+ acre) ecosanctuary is a ground breaking conservation project that has reintroduced 18 species of native wildlife back into the area, some of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years. Set around a picturesque reservoir, ZEALANDIA is home to some of New Zealand's most rare and extraordinary wildlife - all thriving wild in a world-first protected sanctuary.

Forty different species of native birds have been recorded in the valley, twenty-four of them endemic, including the little spotted kiwi, the once thought extinct takahē and native parrots like the kākā and kākāriki. Reptiles and invertebrates also abound – you might be lucky enough to spot a tuatara, NZ's "living fossil" unchanged for 65 million years, or a giant wētā, one of the heaviest insects in the world!

We have arranged a 2 hour walk through ZEALANDIA with an experienced guide to point out the best of our rare native wildlife. Soak up the beautiful scenery while learning more about New Zealand's unique ecological history. The tracks are well maintained but can get a little muddy in the wet so bring appropriate footwear.

Transport will be provided to and from ZEALANDIA after the conclusion of the conference on Friday afternoon (10min drive), and for those still standing afterwards we will head back to the Wellington waterfront for drinks/light refreshments.